The First Week of Holidays Isn’t for Catching Up — It’s for Switching Off

The holidays have arrived… but your brain might not have.

Even though the term has ended, it’s common to still feel “on.”
Replaying moments.
Thinking about your class.
Planning next term.
Holding onto responsibility.

If switching off feels harder than expected, you’re not doing it wrong.

You Don’t Switch Off Overnight

Teaching isn’t just what you do — it’s what you hold.

Weeks (and months) of:
• Decision-making
• Emotional regulation
• Managing behaviour and learning
• Constant responsiveness

Don’t disappear the moment the bell goes.

Your nervous system needs time to catch up.

The First Week Is a Transition Week

We often expect to instantly feel relaxed once holidays begin.

But for many educators, the first week can feel:
• Restless
• Mentally busy
• Unsettled
• Unsure what to do with the space

This isn’t failure.
It’s your system downshifting.

What Actually Helps

Instead of trying to “use the holidays well,” try supporting your brain to slow down.

That might look like:
• Fewer decisions each day
• Slower, less structured mornings
• Gentle routines (walks, coffee, movement)
• Less pressure to be productive
• Allowing your brain to be off-duty

Rest doesn’t always feel restful straight away — sometimes it starts with simply doing less.

The Trap to Avoid

It’s tempting to:
• Get ahead for next term
• Reflect and fix everything
• Stay in planning mode

But this keeps your brain in the same state it’s been in all term.

Recovery doesn’t happen in productivity.

You don’t need to earn your rest.
You don’t need to justify it.
You don’t need to be “better” at switching off.
The first week of holidays isn’t wasted time.
It’s the space your brain needs to move from constant output… to recovery… to clarity.
And that shift takes time.
You’re allowed to slow down